U.S. patent number 5,664,271 [Application Number 08/449,711] was granted by the patent office on 1997-09-09 for support pillow assembly.
Invention is credited to Joseph M. Bellavance.
United States Patent |
5,664,271 |
Bellavance |
September 9, 1997 |
Support pillow assembly
Abstract
A support pillow assembly is usable for cushioning the body of a
person while the person is lying on his/her side on a mattress and
includes an abdominal support pillow adapted to partially underlie
the person's abdomen and a leg support pillow adapted to be
positioned between the person's legs. The leg support pillow can be
two pillows interconnected by flap structures. Alternately, the two
leg pillows can be combined into a single leg support pillow.
Inventors: |
Bellavance; Joseph M.
(Portland, ME) |
Family
ID: |
23785195 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/449,711 |
Filed: |
May 24, 1995 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/632; 5/630;
5/631; 5/648; 5/652 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C
20/021 (20130101); A47C 20/025 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
20/02 (20060101); A47C 20/00 (20060101); A47C
020/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;5/630-632,640,648,652,657 ;D6/601,596 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Other References
"Domestications" Spring 1995, pp. 80 & 81. .
"The Company Store" Summer 1995..
|
Primary Examiner: Meyers; Steven N.
Assistant Examiner: Pham; Tuyet-Phuong
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Jones, Tullar & Cooper,
P.C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A support pillow assembly usable to aid in the support of a
person reclining on his side, said support pillow assembly
comprising:
an abdominal support having a generally crescent shape defined by a
thin arcuate concave inner edge and a thick arcuate convex outer
edge with two major faces, each said major face residing in
substantially a single plane and each having substantially the same
configuration and being convergent from said outer edge to said
inner edge, said two major faces being generally symmetrical to
each other about a midplane of said abdominal support extending
between said inner edge and said outer edge and extending between
the planes of said two major faces, said abdominal support being
structured to be positioned between a user's abdomen and a support
surface supporting the user while reclining on his side with said
thin arcuate concave inner edge being receivable along its length
underneath a user's abdomen;
a leg support positionable between a user's legs and extending
between thigh and calf portions of a user's legs, said leg support
being structured to support a user's legs in a spaced-apart
configuration while a user is reclining on his side, said leg
support being generally C-shaped in plan and being defined by a
concave arcuate rear edge and a convex arcuate front edge, with two
side faces extending between said rear edge and said front edge,
and by an upper edge area locatable between a user's thighs and a
lower edge area locatable between a user's calves, said side faces
being gradually convergent toward said upper and lower edges;
and
means releasably connecting said abdominal support and said leg
support, said abdominal support and said leg support being usable
in concert and separately, said abdominal support and said leg
support being spaced apart from each other by said connecting means
when said abdominal support and said leg support are used in
concert.
2. The support pillow assembly of claim 1, wherein said abdominal
support includes a foam body and a fabric cover encapsulating said
foam body, and wherein said leg support is a unitary resilient body
with a fabric covering fitting around said resilient body.
3. The support pillow assembly of claim 1, wherein said connecting
means includes a first flexible flap extending from said abdominal
support, and a second flexible flap extending from said leg
support.
4. The support pillow assembly of claim 3, wherein said connecting
means further includes mating releasable fasteners carried by said
first and second flexible flaps.
5. The support pillow assembly of claim 1 further including a first
set of support pedestals projecting in opposite directions from
said side faces of said leg support at an intermediate point along
said arcuate front edge, and a second set of support pedestals
projecting in opposite directions from said side faces of said leg
support at an intermediate point along said arcuate rear edge.
6. A support pillow assembly usable to aid in the support of a
person reclining on his side, said support pillow assembly
comprising:
an abdominal support having a generally crescent shape in plan and
a wedge shape in elevation and further having a relatively thin
arcuate concave edge adapted to be positioned on a support surface
supporting the user and in engagement with the user's abdomen, and
a relatively thick arcuate convex edge adapted to extend upwardly
from the support surface;
a leg support positionable between a user's legs and having a thigh
support pillow and a calf support pillow, said thigh and calf
support pillows being joined together to form said leg support,
said thigh support pillow including a first resilient body with a
first fabric cover, said calf support pillow including a second
resilient body with a second fabric cover; and
a flexible connection between said thigh support pillow and said
calf support pillow, said flexible connection including a first
flexible flap extending from said first fabric cover, and a second
flexible flap extending from said second fabric cover.
7. The support pillow assembly of claim 6 wherein said flexible
connection further includes mating releasable fasteners carried by
said first and second flexible flaps.
8. The support pillow assembly of claim 6 wherein each of said
thigh support pillow and said calf support pillow has two opposed,
concave arcuate side surfaces which conform to the surfaces of a
person's thighs and calves.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed generally to a support pillow
assembly for a person's body. More particularly, the present
invention is directed to a support pillow assembly designed to
enhance comfort when a person is lying on their side during resting
or sleeping. More specifically, the present invention is directed
to a support pillow assembly which includes an abdominal support
which is designed to underlie the abdominal area of the person and
a leg support positionable between the user's legs. A thigh support
pillow is adapted to extend between the thigh areas of the person's
legs. A calf support pillow is designed to extend between the calf
areas of the person's legs. The thigh and calf support pillows can
be combined into a single leg support pillow.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
The use of specially designed pillows for making a pregnant woman
more comfortable while lying on her side on a mattress is generally
known in the prior art.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,288,879 to J. L. Pate shows a wedge-shaped
abdominal support pillow having a straight front edge adapted for
insertion underneath the woman's abdomen while she is lying on her
side. The upper surface of the pillow has a concave spherical
configuration that conforms to the shape of the woman's abdomen,
whereby the pillow provides abdominal support.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,397,052, to R. Lund shows an abdominal support
pillow having approximately the same shape as the pillow in the
Pate patent. The Lund patent additionally shows a back rest
detachably attached to the abdominal support pillow, whereby the
woman's body has a cradle-type support between the abdominal
support pillow and the back rest.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,477, to G. Moore, shows a flat slab-like pillow
construction adapted for positionment between the knees of a
person, while he or she is resting or sleeping on a mattress. The
pillow has a V notch in one edge, and a series of slits in the
other edge, whereby the pillow can be bent into a buckled
configuration, e.g., when the person is lying on his or her side
with the legs in a bent or curled configuration.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,584,730, to E. Rajan, shows a flat slab-like pillow
having a number of protrusions that can be used as legs to space
the slab-like pillow above the mattress surface. A person lying on
his/her side can have one leg resting on the mattress (underneath
the pillow) and the other leg resting on the upper surface of the
pillow.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,522, to P. Everett, shows a pillow adapted for
positionment between a person's legs while the person is lying on
his or her back, on a mattress. The pillow has an I-beam cross
section to keep the pillow in place; also, flexible straps can be
attached to the pillow for extension around the person's legs,
thereby further ensuring good retention of the pillow between the
person's legs. The pillow has a transverse triangular notch that
forms a hinge connection between two sections of the pillow,
whereby the person can bend or straighten his/her legs without
changing the fit of the pillow between the legs.
The prior art provides pillow structures that offer at least
partial cushioning and support for a person's abdomen and legs
while the person is lying on a mattress. A person who is pregnant
or who has medical problems, e.g. hip problems, lumbar problems,
knee conditions, sacroiliac problems or arthritic conditions, can
be made more comfortable while lying in bed
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a support pillow
assembly that is usable to make a person, e.g., a pregnant woman or
a person with a medical condition, more comfortable while the
person is lying on his/her side on a mattress, while the person is
resting or sleeping.
The support pillow assembly in accordance with the present
invention has essentially two components, an abdominal support and
a leg support. These components can be used in concert or
separately, and the leg support can be made either as one piece or
two connected and separable pieces. A first one of the pillows of
the support pillow assembly, the abdominal support is
crescent-shaped so as to be positionable under the enlarged abdomen
of the pregnant woman or obese person, whereby the abdomen is at
least partially supported against the abdominal strains associated
with pregnancy or with an obese condition. A second pillow, the leg
support, has an essentially flat elongated shape so that it can be
located between the person's legs, to prevent chafing of the thighs
and calves, and to better distribute the weight of the uppermost
leg onto the lowermost leg (i.e., the leg in contact with the
mattress). Also, this second pillow or pillows serve to alleviate
lower back and pelvic pain by reducing pressure on the lower back
and pelvis.
The second, leg support pillow can comprise a single C-shaped
pillow extending from the person's thigh area to the calf area.
Alternately, the second, leg support-pillow-can comprise a separate
upper, thigh support pillow extendable between the person's thighs,
and a separate lower, calf support pillow extendable between the
person's calves. The two pillows can be connected together by
flexible flaps that extend from the pillow covers, such that the
thigh support pillow and calf support pillow are usable as a unit
for leg cushioning purposes.
Each pillow in the support pillow assembly of the present invention
may comprise a resilient foam core or body and a fabric cover
encapsulating or enveloping the foam body. Each fabric cover may
include a zipper structure, whereby the cover can be removed from
the foam body for cleaning or washing purposes.
The support pillow assembly in accordance with the present
invention is designed for use by pregnant women and by obese
persons who may experience leg pain, pelvic pain, and/or back pain
while lying on a mattress. The leg support pillow can relieve
pressures on the person's lumbar spine, sacroiliac joint, and
sciatic nerve.
When a person is lying on his or her side, the person's lumbar
spine sidebends away from the mattress. By placing the cushions
between the person's legs, the lumbar spine is maintained in a more
neutral position.
Also, when a person is lying on his/her side and the hip is
adducted past neutral, the iliotibial band may be stretched,
thereby exerting a downward pull on a person's pelvis. When the leg
support pillow or pillows are placed between the person's legs, the
top leg is abducted a slight amount, thereby reducing pull on the
iliotibial band and reducing the pelvic stress. The leg support
reduces stress on the iliolumbar and posterior sacroiliac ligaments
by maintaining a more neutral lumbopelvic position.
In some cases, the sciatic nerve can become pinched between the
piriformis and superior gemellus muscles, thereby radiating pain
into the leg. By placing the leg support pillow or pillows between
the person's legs, the piriformis and superior gemellus muscles are
on slack, thereby reducing the risk of sciatic nerve stress.
The abdominal support pillow is advantageous in that when a
pregnant woman or obese person is sidelying, this pillow prevents
the enlarged abdomen from straining the abdominal musculature
pregnant women,;overweight adults, and sufferers of lower back pain
and/or pelvic pain can use the support pillow assembly of the
present invention to rest and sleep more comfortably.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Various features and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the attached drawings of a representative embodiment
of the invention.
FIG. 1, shows a first preferred embodiment of the support pillow
assembly of the present invention in place on the body of a
pregnant woman positioned lying on her side on a mattress (not
shown), and is a top plan view;
FIG. 2, is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 2--2 in FIG.
1;
FIG. 3, is an enlarged top plan view, of a crescent-shaped
abdominal support pillow of the present invention;
FIG. 4, is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 4--4 in FIG.
3;
FIG. 5, is a transverse sectional view, taken on line 5--5 in FIG.
1;
FIG. 6, is a perspective view of the leg support pillow consisting
of two connected leg support pillows, as depicted in the first
preferred embodiment of the support pillow assembly;
FIGS. 7 and 8, are views taken in the same directions as FIGS. 3
and 4, but illustrating an alternate abdominal support pillow
configuration;
FIG. 9, is a top plan view of a second preferred embodiment of the
support pillow assembly and showing a leg support pillow structure,
wherein the two leg supports are integrally joined together;
FIG. 10, is a partial right edge view of the FIG. 9 pillow
structure;
FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIGS. 1 and 9 and showing an
alternative pillow connecting structure; and
FIG. 12 is an enlarged, exploded view of a portion of FIG. 11 and
showing the alternative pillow connecting structure in detail.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT
INVENTION
Referring initially to FIG. 1, there may be seen generally a first
preferred embodiment of a support pillow assembly in accordance
with the present invention. This support pillow assembly includes
an abdominal support 22 insertable underneath the user's enlarged
abdomen. The abdominal support 22 is designed to relieve the
abdominal musculature strain associated with an enlarged abdomen.
The abdominal support cushion 22 may or may not be used in
conjunction with a leg support 40 and 41, which is positionable
between a user's legs and extends between the thigh and calf
portions of a user's legs. Leg support 40 and 41 is designed to
support a person's legs in a spaced-apart configuration while a
user is lying on his or her side to relieve lumbopelvic strain. The
leg support shown in FIG. 1 includes the upper, thigh support
pillow 40 and the lower, calf support pillow 41. These may be
individual, connectable pillows as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 9 depicts
an alternative, single-piece embodiment 60 of the leg support,
which is also releasably connected to abdominal support 22.
FIG. 1 shows, in dashed lines, the body 10 of a pregnant woman in a
position lying on her side on a mattress. As will be apparent, the
pregnant woman has an enlarged, generally bulbous, abdomen 12, back
14, and legs 16. FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view showing the
woman's back 15, and the generally spherical abdomen having a front
surface 18 overlying the surface 20 of a conventional mattress.
The present invention is concerned, in part, with a crescent-shaped
abdominal support pillow 22 formed of foam rubber or similar soft
resilient material. The pillow can be formed of a Single density
foam material; alternatively the pillow can include a core of high
density foam material, and an outer layer of a lower density foam
material. The pillow is preferably equipped with a removable cover
23, as shown in FIG. 4, over the foam body. This cover may be made
using an inner waterproof nylon cover and an outer cover.
Alternatively the cover may be a single cover made of a cotton or
flannel material. It is also to be noted that all the pillows in
the present invention may have removable covers.
The abdominal support pillow 22 has a generally wedge-shaped
cross-section, as seen, e.g. in FIG. 4. The pillow 22 comprises a
relatively thin arcuate concave inner edge 28 adapted to lie on the
mattress surface 20 in partial encirclement of the abdomen, and a
relatively thick arcuate convex outer edge 38 adapted to extend
generally from the mattress, as seen in FIG. 2.
The abdominal support pillow 22 includes two major faces 24 that
are convergent from the thick arcuate edge 38 to the thin arcuate
edge 28. These two major faces 24 are symmetrical around an
imaginary midplane 25 extending through arcuate edges 28 and 38, as
shown generally in FIG. 4. The symmetry of major faces enables the
pillow to be positioned with either face 24 presented to the
abdominal surface.
As indicated previously, the arcuate nature of edge 28 enables the
thinner areas of the pillow to extend around and underneath the
person's abdomen, without undue effort on the person's part. As the
weight of the abdomen presses downwardly, the pillow deflects so
that the lowermost face 24 seats against mattress surface 20.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6, there is shown a leg support
positionable between the users legs. This leg support includes an
upper thigh support pillow 40 adapted to be positioned between the
thighs of the person's legs, and a lower, calf support pillow 41
adapted to be positioned between the calf areas of the person's
legs. These pillows act as spacers to prevent chafing of the skin,
and also to improve the weight distribution of the uppermost leg
onto the lowermost leg. Also, these pillows serve to alleviate low
back pain by reducing low back and pelvic stress. As shown in FIG.
5, thigh support pillow 40 has two concave arcuate side surfaces 43
extending between a relatively narrow front edge 44 and a
relatively narrow rear edge 45. The concave arcuate side surfaces
43 conform to the facing surfaces of the person's thighs so as to
increase the support surface area, and thereby enhance the
comfortability factor. Also, the transverse thickness dimension of
the thigh support pillow 40 increases slightly from the upper end
42 to the lower end 46. The aim of the pillow design is to make the
pillow conform generally to the anatomy of the person using the
pillow.
The cross sectional configuration of the lower, calf support pillow
41 is similar to that shown in FIG. 5, such that the two pillows 40
and 41 work together as a leg support to enable the person to be
reasonably comfortable while lying on his/her side on the mattress.
Pillow 41 has a cross section that tapers slightly from its upper
edge 42 to its lower edge 46, to better conform to the human
anatomy calf area.
Each pillow 40 or 41 comprises a resilient foam body and a fabric
covering fitting around the foam body. Zipper mechanisms can be
incorporated into the fabric coverings to permit removal of the
coverings for cleaning purposes. In FIG. 5 a representative fabric
covering is designated by numeral 27.
The concave nature of pillow side surfaces 43 (on pillows 40 and
41) is advantageous in that it helps to retain the respective
pillow in place between the person's legs. However, additional
restraint can be provided by means of VELCRO straps extendable
around one of the person's legs, in a configuration similar to the
configuration depicted in aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,477 to
G. Moore or U.S. Pat. No. 5,117,522 to P. Everett. Each VELCRO
strap would be attachable to the pillow covering.
Pillows 40 and 41 are connectable together by a flexible connection
means that comprises a flexible flap 49 extending from the fabric
covering for thigh pillow 40, and a second flexible flap 50
extending from the fabric covering for calf pillow 41. Each flap
comprises a releasable fastener formed e.g. preferably of a
hook/loop fibrous material marketed under the trade name VELCRO.
When the flaps are overlapped and pressed together the patches
adhere together, so that the flaps cooperatively hold pillows 40
and 41 against undesired shifting or dislocation. It should be
noted that the use of the terms "flap", "flaps", "flexible
flap(s)", "flap structures", are all referring to the same
releasable "flexible connection means", such as, for example,
snaps, hook and loop, or buttons, and are used interchangeably
throughout.
FIGS. 7 and 8 show an abdominal support pillow that has the same
external configuration as the pillow shown in FIGS. 1 through 4.
However, the pillow of FIGS. 7 and 8 has a cavity 53 in its
peripheral edge surface 38 designed to receive a resilient insert
55. Insert 55 can be formed of the same foam material as the
pillow, such that when the insert 55 is positioned within the
cavity (as shown in FIG. 8) the pillow functions in essentially the
same fashion as the FIG. 1 pillow.
Foam material insert 55 can be removed from cavity 53 to enable the
pillow to have a shallower external upper surface 24. The roof
surface of cavity 53 folds down onto the floor surface of the
cavity so that the wedge angle of the pillow underneath the
person's abdomen is reduced.
The wedge-shaped insert 55 may be removed from the cavity 53 during
those times when the person's abdomen is larger, i.e. during the
later stages of pregnancy or at any time desired by the user to
maximize comfort.
When the abdomen becomes fully enlarged, as shown in FIG. 1, the
insert 55 will be removed from cavity 53 to provide a shallower
pillow construction conforming to the enlarged abdominal
condition.
The abdominal support pillow of FIGS. 1 through 4, 7 and 8, are
designed particularly for use by pregnant women. However, such
pillows can also be used by obese people having large abdomens.
FIGS. 9 to 12 show a second preferred embodiment of a support
pillow assembly in accordance with the present invention. In this
second preferred embodiment, a single leg support pillow structure
60 is utilized to perform the support functions of the two leg
support pillows 40 and 41 shown in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6.
As shown in FIGS. 9-12, the single leg support pillow 60 has a
length sufficient to span the distance from the person's midthigh
area to the midcalf area. The leg support pillow 60 is formed of a
relatively soft resilient material, e.g., foam rubber having a
cloth covering, such that the pillow can provide a resilient
support action for the person's leg that is remote from the
mattress surface 20. Two pedestals 61 support the slab-like pillow
in spaced relation to mattress surface 20, whereby the person can
have one leg resting on the mattress underneath the pillow; with
the other leg resting on the upper surface of the pillow.
Pedestals 61 are located at intermediate points along the length
dimension of the leg support pillow 60, so that the areas of the
leg support pillow 60 interposed between the person's thigh areas
and calf areas are somewhat flexible and conformable to the
person's anatomy. Also, the central area of the leg support pillow
60, where the person's knee is located, is somewhat thicker than
the pillow areas in contact with the thighs and calves.
The central midportion of the leg support pillow 60, designated by
the numeral 62, accommodates the person's knees without causing
them to spread apart to an uncomfortable extent. The thigh support
area 64 is tapered from the central, knee area 62 to provide
adequate spacing and cushioning of the person's thighs. Similarly,
the calf support area 66 is tapered from central, knee area 62 to
provide the desired resilient calf support action.
The leg support pillow 60 of FIGS. 9-12 has a sufficient face area
so that the person can move his/her legs between bent and straight
conditions without loss of the desired leg support action. In use
of the pillow the two pedestals 61 normally support the slab-like
pillow above the mattress surface. However, if the person's legs
should be thicker than the pedestal height, then the pedestals 61
can lift from the mattress surface without adverse effect on the
pillow support action. Pedestals 61 also provide the function of
preventing the pillow from slipping from between person's legs
while he or she is lying with one side on the mattress. Another
pedestal purpose is to prevent the pillow from "over-rotating", or
"over-tilting" backwards or forwards, if one leg is significantly
in front of the other.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, the leg support pillow 60 has a
C-shaped plan configuration defined by a concave arcuate rear edge
65 and a convex arcuate front edge 67. The resilient pillow body
has two essentially flat major faces 69 which converge as they
approach edges 65 and 67. However, as shown in FIG. 10, major faces
69 are gradually convergent (tapered) from the central midportion
62 to the upper and lower edge areas of the pillow body, matching
the tapering in the two-piece pillow set. The gradual convergence
is designed to conform the pillow structure generally to the human
anatomy, whereby the person's knee will be spread apart to a
desired extent, consistent with a comfortable positionment of the
pillow between the person's legs.
Pedestals 61 are duplicated on both major faces of the pillow, such
that the pillow can be reversed so that arcuate front edge 67 can
face to the right or to the left; the person can lie on his/her
right side or left side. The C-shaped configuration of the pillow
enables the person to move his/her legs between the straight and
bent conditions. At the same time the pillow has a relatively small
mass so that it can be manipulated without undue effort. A handle
71 can be sewn to the front edge of the pillow cover to facilitate
manual manipulation of the pillow. A similar handle 99 can be sewn
into the abdominal support pillow cover. Such a handle 99 can be
seen in FIGS. 11 and 12.
As shown in FIG. 9, flexible fabric flaps 73 and 75 are sewn to the
covers for the abdominal support pillow 22 and the leg support
pillow 60, whereby the two pillows are connected together, to
prevent pillow dislocation or shifting. The two flaps have
releasable fasteners on their overlapped surfaces, so that when the
patches are pressed together the flaps are secured together. The
releasable fasteners can be formed of the fibrous hook and loop
materials marketed under the tradename VELCRO.
An alternative to flexible flaps 73 and 75 may be seen in FIGS. 11
and 12. In FIG. 11, support pillows 22 and 60 are releasably
connected via a separate and distinct piece of fabric 100. In FIG.
12, which is an exploded view of FIG. 11, it can be seen that
separate and distinct piece of fabric 100 is releasably fastened to
abdominal support 22 and leg support 60 by inserting tabs 102
through loops 103, which are sewn into the covers of both abdominal
support 22 and leg support 60. Once inserted through loops 103, the
tabs, which have releasable fasteners attached to them, are
releasably fastened by doubling back on themselves and fastening to
themselves. Once this is accomplished, abdominal support 22 is
effectively joined to leg support 60 via separate and distinct
piece of fabric 100.
The present invention, described above, relates to a support pillow
assembly. Features of the present invention are recited in the
appended claims. The drawings contained herein necessarily depict
structural features and embodiments of the support pillow assembly,
useful in the practice of the present invention.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the support
pillow assembly in accordance with the present invention can be
practiced in various alternate forms and configurations. Further,
the previous detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments of
the present invention are presented for purposes of clarity of
understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be
implied therefrom. Finally, all appropriate mechanical and
functional equivalents to the above, which may be obvious to those
skilled in the arts pertaining thereto, are considered to be
encompassed within the claims of the present invention.
* * * * *